Let's be clear: Mortal Kombat 1 is losing momentum. Strong indicators suggest Season 3 content was canceled due to disappointing sales, and the latest esports-focused Pro Kompetition trailer feels painfully cautious.
The Pro Kompetition 2025 circuit offers a mediocre $255,000 total prize pool - a paltry sum by 2025 fighting game standards, even within the FGC community. Top competitors have repeatedly criticized the unsustainable economics - spending thousands on international travel to potentially earn mere hundreds in winnings.
This year's competitive scene will likely split into two isolated regions: North American players competing locally, Europeans staying continent-bound, with EVO 2025 serving as their only major crossover event.
While marketing efforts generate surface-level hype - including the tantalizing T-1000 teaser image - the underlying reality remains concerning. Behind the flashy reveals lies a franchise struggling to maintain relevance in today's fighting game ecosystem.